The recognition was based in part on O’Neall’s role in getting amendments to California’s Property Tax Rules approved by the California State Board of Equalization (SBE) in 2018. The process took many months and included written submissions to the SBE, meetings with SBE staff members, and hearings before elected SBE Members. The Property Tax Rule changes will assist taxpayers in responding to information requests from tax authorities and in making presentations before county Assessment Appeals Boards.

]]>https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/2019/05/greenberg-traurigs-cris-oneall-recognized-as-tax-advocate-of-the-year/In the Zone: GT Qualified Opportunity Zone News – May 2019http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/LegacyAdvisors/~3/2MtRfHf25-s/
Fri, 17 May 2019 20:37:42 +0000https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/?p=2134Continue Reading]]>Welcome to the May 2019 issue of In the Zone: GT Qualified Opportunity Zone News. Our monthly digest of the latest federal and state developments in Qualified Opportunity Zones and Qualified Opportunity Funds and related Greenberg Traurig news and events will keep stakeholders apprised of the most pressing issues in this burgeoning space.

In the Administration:

Today, President Trump spoke before the National Association of Realtors’ legislative meeting and highlighted Opportunity Zones in his address.

The president stated it was “amazing the way [Opportunity Zones] worked out.” He complimented Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on his advocacy for the program and noted that interest is growing and “jobs that are being created in neighborhoods where people wouldn’t go before, the Opportunity Zones. And it’s starting to be seen and it’s starting to be written about.”

S.1344 — 116th Congress (2019-2020): A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to collect data and issue a report on the opportunity zone tax incentives enacted by the 2017 tax reform legislation, and for other purposes.

]]>https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/2019/05/in-the-zone-gt-qualified-opportunity-zone-news-may-2019/Refundable State Tax Credits: Maybe Don’t Take the Money and Runhttp://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/LegacyAdvisors/~3/-EmQ5LztThw/
Wed, 08 May 2019 15:00:22 +0000https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/?p=2131Continue Reading]]>On April 25, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided that refundable state tax brownfield credits are taxable income for federal purposes. The court held in Ginsburg v. United States, “The excess amount of the brownfield redevelopment tax credit received by the Ginsburgs in 2013 is taxable gross income because it is an undeniable accession to wealth over which the Ginsburgs have complete dominion and control.”

The case dealt with New York’s brownfield credits that may be used to reduce a taxpayer’s state tax obligations and, if there are excess credits beyond the state tax liabilities, can be refunded to the taxpayer. The court’s decision makes that refunded credit subject to federal tax. The taxpayers argued that the brownfield redevelopment tax credit “is a reimbursement of a portion of the capital costs,” i.e., costs relating to investments made by them for the cleanup and redevelopment of the property. Accordingly, the Ginsburgs claimed they “neither realized an undeniable accession to wealth nor an economic gain” because the payment was a reimbursement of expenses. They also argued they do not have complete dominion and control over the tax credits because there were many strings attached. The court was not persuaded and found that the Ginsburgs neither alleged a payment was made to New York nor explained why the payment of the excess amount of the brownfield redevelopment tax credit was a return of their basis to restore impaired capital.

This detailed analysis contains a deep dive into the technical aspects of the New Proposed Regulations and a description of the planning considerations thereunder for both QOZ fund sponsors and operators.

]]>https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/2019/05/gt-executive-summary-detailed-analysis-irs-issues-second-installment-of-qualified-opportunity-zone-fund-qof-proposed-regulations/IRS Expands Retirement Plan Self-Correction Programhttp://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/LegacyAdvisors/~3/6QaQygG-LWc/
Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:34:53 +0000https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/?p=2126Continue Reading]]>Our January 2019 GT Benefits and Compensation Alert addressed the unprecedented level of potential liability for compliance failures in 401(k) and other retirement plans and the importance of performing a plan compliance review and correcting plan document or operational failures before an IRS auditor knocks on the door. Doing nothing and playing the audit lottery is no longer an acceptable risk, with one out of three employers (and half of large employers with at least 25,000 employees) likely to have their retirement plan audited by the IRS or DOL (See 2016 WillisTowersWatson Retirement Plan Governance Survey).

Fortunately, the IRS and DOL have programs allowing employer plan sponsors to perform compliance reviews and self-correct plan document and operational failures rather than requiring them to file a correction submission with the IRS or DOL for approval and paying fees or negotiating sanctions on audit.

The IRS has just released new self-correction procedures with the issuance of Revenue Procedure 2019-19, effective as of April 19, 2019, which increases the number and type of errors that can be self-corrected without filing and paying a fee.

]]>https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/2019/04/irs-expands-retirement-plan-self-correction-program/Applicable Federal Rates and Code Section 7520 Rate for May 2019 – Downward Trend Continueshttp://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/LegacyAdvisors/~3/R84sW3PsCzs/
Thu, 25 Apr 2019 14:02:20 +0000https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/?p=2120Continue Reading]]>The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes the applicable federal rates (AFRs) under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 1274(d) and the Code Section 7520 rate (7520 rate) for a particular month in a Revenue Ruling that is released around the 18thday of the immediately preceding month. Advance knowledge of the AFRs and 7520 rate for the following month provides a window of opportunity for the quick or delayed implementation of income, gift, and estate-tax planning techniques in response to upward or downward trends. Effective implementation and management of interest-sensitive estate planning techniques involves numerous other factors in addition to the relevant AFR or 7520 rate, including a client’s particular personal and financial circumstances and should be undertaken only with the advice of competent tax counsel and financial advisors.

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2019-12, which provides the AFRs and 7520 rate for May 2019. Revenue Ruling 2019-12 appears in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2019-19, dated April 16, 2019. The downward trend that began in January 2019 continues, with all AFRs and 7520 rate below 3% in May 2019.

What is the Applicable AFR? The applicable AFR is the minimum safe-harbor interest rate that must apply to loans between related parties (intra-family loans) to avoid adverse income or gift-tax consequences – based on the month in which the loan is made, how frequently interest is compounded, and the length or term of the loan.

AFRs Trending Down. AFRs have been decreasing steadily since January 2019, making intra-family loans and installment sales to grantor trusts generally more attractive.

May 2019 AFRs Summary. The AFRs for May 2019 are as follows:

AFR

ANNUAL

SEMI-ANNUAL

QUARTERLY

MONTHLY

Short-Term

2.39%

2.38%

2.37%

2.37%

Mid-Term

2.37%

2.36%

2.35%

2.35%

Long-Term

2.74%

2.72%

2.71%

2.70%

Historical AFRs. The AFRs for May 2018 through May 2019 are as follows, in reverse chronological order:

AFR

ANNUAL

SEMI-ANNUAL

QUARTERLY

MONTHLY

Short-Term AFRs – For demand notes and notes with a term of three years or less.

May 2019

2.39%

2.38%

2.37%

2.37%

April 2019

2.52%

2.50%

2.49%

2.49%

March 2019

2.55%

2.53%

2.52%

2.52%

February 2019

2.57%

2.55%

2.54%

2.54%

January 2019

2.72%

2.70%

2.69%

2.68%

December 2018

2.76%

2.74%

2.73%

2.72%

November 2018

2.70%

2.68%

2.67%

2.67%

October 2018

2.55%

2.53%

2.52%

2.52%

September 2018

2.51%

2.49%

2.48%

2.48%

August 2018

2.42%

2.41%

2.40%

2.40%

July 2018

2.38%

2.37%

2.36%

2.36%

June 2018

2.34%

2.33%

2.32%

2.32%

May 2018

2.18%

2.17%

2.16%

2.16%

Mid-Term AFRs – For notes with a term in excess of three years but no greater than nine years.

May 2019

2.37%

2.36%

2.35%

2.35%

April 2019

2.55%

2.53%

2.52%

2.52%

March 2019

2.59%

2.57%

2.56%

2.56%

February 2019

2.63%

2.61%

2.60%

2.60%

January 2019

2.89%

2.87%

2.86%

2.85%

December 2018

3.07%

3.05%

3.04%

3.03%

November 2018

3.04%

3.02%

3.01%

3.00%

October 2018

2.83%

2.81%

2.80%

2.79%

September 2018

2.86%

2.84%

2.83%

2.82%

August 2018

2.80%

2.78%

2.77%

2.76%

July 2018

2.87%

2.85%

2.84%

2.83%

June 2018

2.86%

2.84%

2.83%

2.82%

May 2018

2.69%

2.67%

2.66%

2.66%

Long-Term AFRs – For notes with a term in excess of nine years.

May 2019

2.74%

2.72%

2.71%

2.70%

April 2019

2.89%

2.87%

2.86%

2.85%

March 2019

2.91%

2.89%

2.88%

2.87%

February 2019

2.91%

2.89%

2.88%

2.87%

January 2019

3.15%

3.13%

3.12%

3.11%

December 2018

3.31%

3.28%

3.27%

3.26%

November 2018

3.22%

3.19%

3.18%

3.17%

October 2018

2.99%

2.97%

2.96%

2.95%

September 2018

3.02%

3.00%

2.99%

2.98%

August 2018

2.95%

2.93%

2.92%

2.91%

July 2018

3.06%

3.04%

3.03%

3.02%

June 2018

3.05%

3.03%

3.02%

3.01%

May 2018

2.94%

2.92%

2.91%

2.90%

Note that the “blended annual rate” under Code Section 7872(e)(2)(A) may be used to determine the interest on a demand loan (i.e., a loan which can be called in at any time) with a fixed principal amount outstanding for an entire year.

What is the 7520 Rate? The 7520 rate for the month in which a lifetime gift or testamentary transfer occurs is used to determine the gift- or estate-tax value of an annuity, an interest for life or for a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest. In the case of a charitable life estate or remainder, however, the 7520 rate for the month in which the lifetime gift or testamentary transfer occurs or a rate for either of the two preceding months may be used to determine its income-, gift-, or estate-tax value. The 7520 rate is equal to 120% of the applicable mid-term rate using semi-annual compounding, adjusting the resulting rate to produce an equivalent yield for annual compounding, and then rounding it to the nearest two-tenths of a percent.

7520 Rate Trending Down. The 7520 rate also has continued its downward trend, making planning techniques like grantor retained annuity trusts (“GRATs”) and charitable lead annuity trusts (“CLATs”) more attractive. Conversely, qualified personal residence trusts (“QPRTs”) and charitable remainder annuity trusts (“CRATs”) have become less attractive.

7520 Rate for May 2019. The 7520 rate for May 2019 is 2.8%.

Historical 7520 Rates. The 7520 rates for May 2018 through May 2019 are as follows, in reverse chronological order:

HUD is asking for public comment on its existing policies, practices, planned actions, regulations, and guidance regarding HUD-administered programs and laws to identify actions HUD can take to encourage beneficial investment, both public and private, in urban and economically distressed communities, including qualified Opportunity Zones. HUD seeks input and recommendations from the public regarding potential agency actions.

]]>https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/2019/04/in-the-zone-gt-qualified-opportunity-zone-news-april-2019/Highly Anticipated Qualified Opportunity Zone Proposed Treasury Regulations Releasedhttp://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/LegacyAdvisors/~3/29c0HLInlss/
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:29:48 +0000https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/?p=2112Continue Reading]]>On Wednesday, April 17, the United States Department of the Treasury released proposed regulations related to investment in Qualified Opportunity Zones and Qualified Opportunity Funds. The issuance of these highly anticipated regulations and related guidance will provide critical information to investors, Qualified Opportunity Funds, and project sponsors/operators involved in real estate, venture capital, operating business, and project finance in Qualified Opportunity Zones. Of particular importance in this release is guidance relating to the qualification criteria for operating businesses and venture capital. The release also provides further clarity in the qualification criteria for real estate development projects. Greenberg Traurig has broad experience working with clients in fund formation and investor utilization, along with sponsor, developer, and operator project qualification under this new tax incentive program.

Click here for the full GT Alert, which includes a link to and highlights of the proposed regulations.

]]>https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/2019/04/highly-anticipated-qualified-opportunity-zone-proposed-treasury-regulations-released/Veterans Housing Preference Permitted Under IRC Section 42 Now Permitted Under 142http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/LegacyAdvisors/~3/X0jgRgTtvX8/
Thu, 04 Apr 2019 19:07:15 +0000https://www.gtlaw-legacyadvisors.com/?p=2110Continue Reading]]>On April 3, 2019, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2019-17, providing that the general public use requirement of section 142(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to residential rental projects) permits the use of housing preferences and occupancy restrictions consistent with the provisions of the low-income housing tax credit requirements under section 42(g)(9) of the Code. This issue has become a point of interest for housing developers given a recent focus on the needs of veterans and other groups that have particular trouble locating affordable housing.

On Capitol Hill, Opportunity Zones continue to get a lot of attention and discussion before Tax Committees. On March 14 Treasury Secretary Mnuchin appeared before the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees. There was good discussion and interest level in House Ways and Means on Opportunity Zones as the new Democrat majority assesses this component of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, looking to determine effectiveness in achieving new majority goals.

OMB still has the most recent Opportunity Zones rule under consideration:

Thanks to our partners for a successful event in Northern Virginia: Life Cycle of a Serial Entrepreneur – Just in Time: Qualified Opportunity Zone.

Our panelists discussed the most recent tax legislation regarding robust tax benefits when investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones. If you’ve recently sold your company or investment for a sizable capital gain, investing in a Qualified Opportunity Fund can be an effective strategy to reduce the upcoming tax bill by deferring the gain. But timing is crucial as the tax benefits are tied to a 180-day window to invest in an Opportunity Zone Fund.